Governor Douye Diri urges Bayelsa to preserve Ijaw culture at Gbarain Uzu Festival

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, speaking through Deputy Dr Peter Akpe, called on residents to take pride in and preserve their Ijaw cultural heritage during the grand finale of the 2026 Gbarain Uzu New Yam Festival in Ogboloma, Yenagoa LGA. He emphasized the role of festivals in teaching the Ijaw language, highlighted the new yam’s traditional medicinal reputation, and thanked God for the fertile land, noting that Bayelsa’s wealth extends beyond oil to agriculture.

The Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, also praised the peaceful atmosphere and urged the state government and oil companies to invest in infrastructure, specifically the dualisation of the Igbogene–Polaku road, to further develop the region.